Improvement in life buoys and safes



U. C. REB.

Life-Buoys and Safes.

No 150189, PatenredApril28,1874.

ATEN'I FFICE.

OLIVER C. REID, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ltflPROl/EMENT IN LIFE BUOVS AND SAFES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 150,189, dated April 28, 1874; application filed January 9, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER C. RE1D',of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improved Combined Lost-Signal and Life-Buoy, of which the following is a speciiication:

My invention relates to a combined lostsignal and life-buoy constructed of vulcanized india-rubber or other elastic material, pro` vided with a bottom adjustable metallic watertight cap and top mouth-piece valve, in such manner that it can be inflated with air by blowing into it through this mouth-piece, and thus be enabled to float at sea, and carry letters or other valuables that may be inserted 5 the object of my invention being to construct a lost-signal wherein valuables may be placed, may serve to rescue persons at sea, and may also, when not required for use, be collapsed and stowed away on board ship in as small a space as possible.

Figure lis a vertical section of a combined lost-signal and life-buoy embodying1 my invention. Fig. 2 is aside view of the same, shown collapsed.

Vith reference to l and 2, A A is the combined signal and life buoy, which consists ofa vulcanized india-rubber hollow globe or ball, covered with fine cloth, B. This elastic globe B is made of various sizes, according to the requirements to which it is to be adapted, and may have horizontal ridges so as to enable it to be the more easily folded up when collapsed for stowing away. At the portion of this signal which is intended to be uppermost a brass mouth-piece, e, is fastened, similar to those in general use on air-pillows, 85e. This mouth-piece 'v is fastened securely and wat-en tight to the vulcanized india-rubber of the globe, so as to leave a communication with the interior when the valve-socket a has been un screwed; but closes air and water tight when screwed down into its seating in the body of the mouth-piece. At the part which is intended for the bottom of this lost-signal a metallic ring, R, with iiange t, is fitted, airtight, so as to leave a considerable opening into the globe for placing letters and valuables within. This opening is closed by a metallic cap, C, provided with flange d, so as to screw over this ring R, bed onto the india-rubber resting against the iiange t, and form a seating with its own fiange d both air and water tight. At the bottom of this cap C a ring, oz, is tired, to which alink, L, is hung. Thislink L is used either for suspending ballast to, so as to keep the cap C and mouth-piece e in a vertical line, and thus enable it to float at a I proper level in an upright position, or for passing a'strap, s, through, so that one or more of these signals may be used as life-buoys by attaching them to the person, while at the same time such life-buoy may also be the repository of certain valuables that the person to be rescued may wish to insert, by first disengaging the bottom cap C, and securing it again in the manner already described.

Vhen this apparatus is used as a lost-signal it is painted a bri ght-red color, so as te be most attractive to any passing vessel.

I do not claim a metallic buoy or metallic lost-signal separately, as I am aware that these are not new; also, I make no claim to the mouth-piece c, as I am aware that the same is in common use in life-preservers generally, but,

Vh at I claim as my invention, and desire to obtain Letters Patent therefor, is

The adjustable cap C, provided with flange d, ring a, and link L, in combination with the collapsible vessel B, fitted with ring R and ilange t, substantially as and for the purposes speciied.

OLIVER C. REID.

Witnesses:

LIONEL VARIcAs, HENRY C. BLAKE. 

